City introduces two dozen firefighter academy recruits

A diverse group of 24 recruits to the city of Rochester’s firefighter academy, including 12 African Americans and five military veterans, was introduced Monday.

The class began training last Monday, city officials said.

“The city of Rochester is committed to creating a workforce that reflects the incredible diversity of this city,” Mayor Thomas Richards said in a statement. “This fire academy class represents another great stride forward toward that goal.”

The class includes 11 African American men, nine white men, two white women, one African American woman and one Asian man. Five are military veterans, officials said.

It is the Rochester Fire Department’s most diverse fire academy on record, officials said.

The group will undergo state Emergency Medical Technician training, as well as two levels of firefighter training, officials said. The class is scheduled to graduate in May 2013.